Large outage after pickup strikes pole and flees scene

LEBANON, Maine — A power outage was reported in the area after a vehicle reportedly crashed into a telephone pole on Upper Cross Road and then fled the scene.

Lebanon Assistant Chief Jason Cole said he was the first unit on scene and located a telephone pole that had been snapped in multiple spots and was down on the side of the road, near the intersection of Center Road at 1:13 a.m. Thursday. No vehicle was on site as emergency crews arrived on scene, from the Rescue Department, Maine State Police and the Lebanon Fire Department.

“Several neighbors who heard the crash and explosion came running out to see what was going on. Three of the neighbors had moved their cars to block the roadway so other cars wouldn’t drive near the downed lines,” Cole said. “Additionally, a witness who saw a pickup truck with front-end damage and part of the telephone pole in the grille ... stopped to advise the vehicle had (fled) toward the fire station on Upper Cross Road.”

There were no new updates from the department at the end of the day Thursday on the crash and the case remains under investigation at the time.

Rescue crews checked the area to ensure no one on scene was hurt. A Lebanon ambulance was canceled when no patients were found while a power outage spread throughout Center Lebanon.

According to the Central Maine Power website, approximately 305 houses and businesses were without power at 3 a.m., a little more than 10 percent of the houses and businesses in town, according to the Lebanon Rescue Department.

Fire crews provided traffic control until Central Maine Power arrived. They were still on scene then, to restore power and replace the broken pole.

Maine State Police are investigating the accident urge anyone with information to contact them at 207-657-3030.